What cyber-scamming looks like:

Suspiciously good offers

Capture your private data and financial details while selling products that either don’t arrive or turn out to be cheap knock-offs of the real thing.

Steal your money for a product you will never receive.

Make a profit by adding a high shipping cost without you noticing.

Sell a product that is different from what you ordered, have you return it at

your own expense and keep your initial payment.

Demands for upfront payment

Shoppers should be wary of out-of-the-blue emails or social media messages

Especially those declaring they have received a prize, gift or package that needs to be delivered – but requires payment of an administrative or postage fee before it can be sent out. Never pay upfront fees for unexpected gifts or prizes.

Check the payment method

A big red flag that an online store is fraudulent is the method of payment.

Scammers will often ask you to pay for an item with a pre-loaded money or gift card, a wire transfer, or money order. Avoid these payment methods as much as possible.

How to stay safe from the Cyber Grinch (while still shopping):

Shop with reputable online stores you know and trust

Some scammers set up websites or pages that look authentic,
but are just convincing fakes designed to fool you. Be sure to do some careful
research by reading online reviews and recommendations in independent community
forums. If you’re buying expensive products, be especially careful – thoroughly check the store’s business
credentials before paying.

Choose smart payment protection options

Some online payment methods are more secure than others. Fitzgerald
recommends using credit cards where possible. Credit cards are a safe option
for online shopping because your bank will likely be monitoring for any suspicious
activity or unexpected transactions, and can alert you to or even defend you
from cyber-incidents. And, if your
financial details or money do get stolen, you can ask your bank to protect your
account and reverse the charge.

Embrace two-step authentication

When setting up an account with an online store, Fitzgerald
recommends protecting your data with two-step verification whenever you have
the choice. This will mean that in
addition to the usual password log-in, the store will also send a text or email
to you with a one-time code to further verify your identity.

Check the online store is secure

Look for trustworthy web addresses starting with ‘https’, or those displaying the padlock icon. These mean that any communication between you and the site is encrypted, so that any personal data you send will be protected from anyone trying to intercept it.